Liquid atomizing devices

ABSTRACT

A liquid atomizing device in which a tubular body is open at both ends and has inclined blades mounted within one end to impart a swirling motion to air passing through the body. Fuel is supplied through passages which open on to the downstream edges of the blades, with the fuel being injected transversely into the swirling airstream.

United States Patent Cheshire et a1.

[54] LIQUID ATOMIZING DEVICES [72] Inventors: Alan Gillingham Cheshire,Bumley,

Lancashire; Harold Place, Accn'ngton; both of Englandj a v [73]Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited [22] Filed: May 13, 1970[21] Appl. No.: 36,802

[52] US. Cl ..239/399 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 7/10 [58] Field of Search..239/399, 403, 400

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Zink ..239/4oo x [1513,682,390 [4s] Aug. 8, 1972 3,231,201 1/1966 Jackson ..239/399 2,815,98212/1957 Blearnaster ..239/403X Primary Examiner-Allen N. KnowlesAssistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. Attomey-Holman & Stern ABSTRACT Aliquid atomizing device in which a tubular body is open at both ends andhas inclined blades mounted within one end to impart a swirling motionto air passing through the body. Fuel is supplied through passages whichopen on to the downstream edges of the blades, with the fuel beinginjected transversely into the swirling airstream.

2Clains,3DrawingFigures LIQUID ATOMIZING DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a liquid atomizing device intendedparticularly for use in the burners of gas turbine engines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A liquid atomizing device in accordance withthe invention comprises a tubular body through which air is. caused toflow in use, an air swirler at the downstream end of said body includinga plurality of blades inclined to the axis of said body, a plurality ofpassages being formed in said blades and extending adjacent therespective trailing edges thereof, each such passage communicating withone or more transverse holes in the associated blade, and passage meanswhereby liquid can be supplied to said passages, with the arrangementbeing such that in use, liquid supplied to said passages is injectedtransversely into the swirling air stream through said holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An example of the invention isshown inthe accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a view of a liquidatomizing device in accordance with the invention, the view beingpartially in longitudinal section,

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device, also partially in section and FIG.3 is a developed cross-section on line 3--3 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The device shown includes a tubularbody comprising an outer sleeve 11 and an inner sleeve 12 between whichthere is defined an annular passage means 13 communicating with an inlet14 ina support 15 for the body 10. At the end of the body remote fromthe support 15 (i.e., the end which will be downstream 10 so that airflowing through the body 10 is given a swirling motion thereby to createa conically expanding air flow pattern immediately downstream of thebody.

Each of the blades 17 is formed with a drilling 18 extending adjacentthe trailing edge of the associated blade with such drillingcommunicating at its outer end with the annular passage 13. One or morecross bores 19 is or are formed in each of the blades 17 to communicatewith the drilling 18 therein. In the example in use), there is an airswirler 16 comprising a plurality of blades 17 which are inclined to theaxis of the body shown, there are three such cross bores in each bladeand these open onto the face of the blade which will, in use, be at highpressure, as will be evident from FIG. 3.

Thus, in use, liquid is injected into the swirling air stream throughthe holes fonned by the cross bores 19. It is intended that such anarrangement will be effective in atomizing the liquid over a wide rangeof liquid supply pressures and air flow rates through the body 10. Sucha characteristic is required in the burners of a gas turbine engine toensure effective atomization during starting when the fuel pressure islow and the air flow rate through the body 10 will similarly be low.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as ew d, e ir tosecureb Lette Patentis;

llAliaur t ue atomizing device or positioning man airstream, comprisinga tubular body which is open at both ends and through which air iscaused to flow in use, an air swirl at the downstream end of said bodyincluding a plurality of blades inclined to the axis of said body, aplurality of passages being formed in said blades and extending adjacentthe respective trailing edges thereof, a hole opening onto the face ofeach blade which is, in use, at high pressure, said passagescommunicating with said holes, and passage means whereby liquid fuel canbe supplied to said passages, the arrangement being such that in use,liquid fuel supplied to said passages is injected transversely into theswirling airstream through said holes, the body comprising an outersleeve and an inner sleeve which between them define said passage means.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 in which each said passagecommunicates at its outer end with the said passage means.

1. A liquid fuel atomizing device for positioning in an airstream,comprising a tubular body which is open at both ends and through whichair is caused to flow in use, an air swirl at The downstream end of saidbody including a plurality of blades inclined to the axis of said body,a plurality of passages being formed in said blades and extendingadjacent the respective trailing edges thereof, a hole opening onto theface of each blade which is, in use, at high pressure, said passagescommunicating with said holes, and passage means whereby liquid fuel canbe supplied to said passages, the arrangement being such that in use,liquid fuel supplied to said passages is injected transversely into theswirling airstream through said holes, the body comprising an outersleeve and an inner sleeve which between them define said passage means.2. The device as claimed in claim 1 in which each said passagecommunicates at its outer end with the said passage means.